American Idol XIII: Meet the Top 13 Finalists

For American Idol's 13th season, a lucky 13 finalists were chosen for their chance at potential superstardom. But before they hit the big time, they're just regular folks like us.
Want proof? Click through to find out which of the Top 13 likes Flamin' Hot Cheetos, who wants to avoid leather pants, and to learn more about the people behind those voi… Read moreFor American Idol's 13th season, a lucky 13 finalists were chosen for their chance at potential superstardom. But before they hit the big time, they're just regular folks like us.
Want proof? Click through to find out which of the Top 13 likes Flamin' Hot Cheetos, who wants to avoid leather pants, and to learn more about the people behind those voices.
Photo by: Michael Becker/FOX

Ben Briley, 24

Hometown: Gallatin, Tenn.
Idol Alum Dream Duet: Definitely in my Top 3 would be Janelle Arthur from last year. Janelle and my wife had been friends. They're from the same town. She's a good friend of mine. So I'd want to play with her on the show. That would be awesome. Also, strictly from a performance standpoint, Taylor Hicks has always been one… Read moreHometown: Gallatin, Tenn.
Idol Alum Dream Duet: Definitely in my Top 3 would be Janelle Arthur from last year. Janelle and my wife had been friends. They're from the same town. She's a good friend of mine. So I'd want to play with her on the show. That would be awesome. Also, strictly from a performance standpoint, Taylor Hicks has always been one of my favorites from how he handled himself on stage and how he performed.
His Idol Fashion No-No: You know, I'm not really a leather pants kind of guy. I've got hairy legs and I just cannot do that.
Why Tennessee Is Better Than Alabama: How much time you got?Add to Watchlist: 24, Ben Briley
Photo by: Michael Becker/FOX

C.J. Harris, 23

Hometown: Jasper, Ala.
Dream Lunch with an Idol Judge: [Laughs] Jennifer Lopez. I don't think I'd be able to eat. I'll be taking selfies the whole time.
Song That Gets Him Grooving: I like James Brown's "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag." I love that song.
Bad Habit: I dip Copenhagen Wintergreen. I'm a country boy. But I've settled down a lot. It's a co… Read moreHometown: Jasper, Ala.
Dream Lunch with an Idol Judge: [Laughs] Jennifer Lopez. I don't think I'd be able to eat. I'll be taking selfies the whole time.
Song That Gets Him Grooving: I like James Brown's "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag." I love that song.
Bad Habit: I dip Copenhagen Wintergreen. I'm a country boy. But I've settled down a lot. It's a competition ... so I'm just going to stop.Add to Watchlist: C.J. Harris
Photo by: Michael Becker/FOX

Jena Irene, 17

Hometown: Farmington Hills, Mich.
Idol Alum Dream Duet: I'd have to say Chris Daughtry. He was a mentor for me and every single advice point he gave to me was so beneficial.
Guilty Pleasure Food: Oh man, mac n cheese all the way. And Taco Bell! Food at 4 in the morning. Anything from Taco Bell.
Add to Watchlist: Jena Irene
Photo by: Michael Becker/FOX

Caleb Johnson, 22

Hometown: Asheville, N.C.
Hugging Ryan Seacrest: It was crazy. He latched onto me like a spider monkey. He got on me. I tried to shake him off, but he was like still on me.
His First Gig: The first ever singing I did was at my high school talent show. It was a really crappy band. We did an original song and then we did a cover of [Credence Clearwa… Read moreHometown: Asheville, N.C.
Hugging Ryan Seacrest: It was crazy. He latched onto me like a spider monkey. He got on me. I tried to shake him off, but he was like still on me.
His First Gig: The first ever singing I did was at my high school talent show. It was a really crappy band. We did an original song and then we did a cover of [Credence Clearwater Revival's] "Fortunate Son." The crowd went nuts and people were loving it. From that moment on, I was like, "This is what I want to do."
Celebrity Resemblance: People said that I was the love child of Jack Black and Meatloaf. I'm a beautiful baby!Add to Watchlist: Caleb Johnson
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Jessica Meuse, 23

Hometown: Slapout, Ala.
Pre-Idol Efforts: I actually auditioned for The Voice in 2012 and I got to blind auditions, but nobody turned around, and they didn't air my audition. I was told that I sang out of tune and that I shriek. I was kind of like, I don't care that they said that because you're always going to have those people who say those thing… Read moreHometown: Slapout, Ala.
Pre-Idol Efforts: I actually auditioned for The Voice in 2012 and I got to blind auditions, but nobody turned around, and they didn't air my audition. I was told that I sang out of tune and that I shriek. I was kind of like, I don't care that they said that because you're always going to have those people who say those things." There's always going to be hate no matter where you turn. I just figure if there are people who hate you, you've got to be doing something right.
Guilty Pleasure Song: Well, sometimes I listen to the really old Now CDs, so that [Eiffel 65 song] "Blue (Da Ba De)" song and even the old Britney Spears "Sometimes" and "Hit Me Baby One More Time." I'm not ashamed. I have no shame.Add to Watchlist: Jessica Meuse
Photo by: Michael Becker/FOX

MK Nobilette, 20

Hometown: San Francisco, Calif.
If Her Life Were a Song: "Resolution" by Matt Corby or anything by Allen Stone. "Resolution" is so soft but also it's subtle but so powerful. And that's what they describe me as -- when I sang "A-Team," they said I was a quiet storm and that's how I would describe "Resolution."
Testing New Genres: Oh man, I would be… Read moreHometown: San Francisco, Calif.
If Her Life Were a Song: "Resolution" by Matt Corby or anything by Allen Stone. "Resolution" is so soft but also it's subtle but so powerful. And that's what they describe me as -- when I sang "A-Team," they said I was a quiet storm and that's how I would describe "Resolution."
Testing New Genres: Oh man, I would be so stoked to try a country song. I'm not a country singer at all, but I would love to try that out.Add to Watchlist: MK Nobilette
Photo by: Michael Becker/FOX

Kristen O'Connor, 24

Hometown: Sebastian, Fla.
Judge(s) She Identifies with the Most: I identify a lot with Jennifer Lopez because she's a performer, and I see myself as a performer on the stage. I like to get the crowd going. But Harry is a musician and I definitely think of myself as a musician. I read music, I know music theory, I'm classically trained.
Celebrity D… Read moreHometown: Sebastian, Fla.
Judge(s) She Identifies with the Most: I identify a lot with Jennifer Lopez because she's a performer, and I see myself as a performer on the stage. I like to get the crowd going. But Harry is a musician and I definitely think of myself as a musician. I read music, I know music theory, I'm classically trained.
Celebrity Doppelganger: I get it all the time. Not even just celebrities but like, "You look like this girl from my church. You look like my cousin." I think I have one of those familiar faces. The one I get a lot is Rachel Bilson.Add to Watchlist: Kristen O'Connor, 24
Photo by: Michael Becker/FOX

Emily Piriz, 18

Hometown: Orlando, Fla.
Her Support Group: I called my boyfriend right away. He's a United States marine. He was super-excited. He said that when they called my name, a bunch of Marines screamed like little girls.
Her Idol Fashion No-No: Cowboy boots. I'm not into cowboy boots. I can do boots cute boots, high boots, but cowboy boots are a no-no fo… Read moreHometown: Orlando, Fla.
Her Support Group: I called my boyfriend right away. He's a United States marine. He was super-excited. He said that when they called my name, a bunch of Marines screamed like little girls.
Her Idol Fashion No-No: Cowboy boots. I'm not into cowboy boots. I can do boots cute boots, high boots, but cowboy boots are a no-no for me.Add to Watchlist: Emily Piriz
Photo by: Michael Becker/FOX

Dexter Roberts, 22

Hometown: Fayette, Ala.
Sweet Home Alabama Pal C.J. We're the 'bama boys. We've known each other a long time. Jasper and Fayette — it's so close, and we both ended up on American Idol. We both auditioned and we made it.
His Idol Fashion No-No: I don't want to wear skinny jeans. Skinny jeans is not me.
Surprising Fact: I'm scared of spiders.
Add to Watchlist: Dexter Roberts
Photo by: Michael Becker/FOX

Majesty Rose, 21

Hometown: Goldsboro, N.C.
If Her Life Were a Song: "Fix You" by Coldplay. That song just gives so much hope and that's the kind of artist that I really want to be, an artist who isn't just trying to be better than everybody else. It's an artist who really wants to reach the fans' heart.
Idol Alum Dream Duet: Probably Casey Abrams. I think we would… Read moreHometown: Goldsboro, N.C.
If Her Life Were a Song: "Fix You" by Coldplay. That song just gives so much hope and that's the kind of artist that I really want to be, an artist who isn't just trying to be better than everybody else. It's an artist who really wants to reach the fans' heart.
Idol Alum Dream Duet: Probably Casey Abrams. I think we would do great together. He would bring that upright bass, and I would play the guitar.
Dream Lunch Date with Idol Judge: Keith Urban definitely. We would eat lasagna. I think that would be a very delightful lunch. And if he brought his wife, it would be even better. I love her.Add to Watchlist: Majesty Rose
Photo by: Michael Becker/FOX

Malaya Watson, 16

Hometown: Southfield, Mich.
Her Idol Fashion No-No: Something that's not me is caked on makeup. I like people to see my regular face. Think about it; if I wipe that off, you're going to see something totally different. And I'm not about that. It's all about the lipstick and the eyes. I want you to see every zit on my face.
Celebrity Dopplegangers:… Read moreHometown: Southfield, Mich.
Her Idol Fashion No-No: Something that's not me is caked on makeup. I like people to see my regular face. Think about it; if I wipe that off, you're going to see something totally different. And I'm not about that. It's all about the lipstick and the eyes. I want you to see every zit on my face.
Celebrity Dopplegangers: I get Elle Varner, who sang "Refill." I've gotten Ugly Betty. I've gotten the little Purple Minion. It's the hair. I'm fine with that.Add to Watchlist: Malaya Watson
Photo by: Michael Becker/FOX